Preperations get underway for Liverpool's 9,000 seat arena and conference centre

Partners working on the regeneration of Kings Waterfront in Liverpool have announced the start of a £15m programme of infrastructure works.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held to mark the start of works that will be the first phase in transforming the 15 ha site into a mixed-use development of international quality.

Representatives of City Centre Urban Regeneration Company Liverpool Vision, national regeneration agency English Partnerships, Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Liverpool City Council and the Merseyside Objective 1 Programme were on hand to witness the start of a two-year construction programme.

Once complete Kings Waterfront will include a 9,180-seat arena, 7,600 sq m conference centre, 1,350-seat auditorium, two hotels, 1,800 residential units, commercial leisure and retail space, car parking and public open space.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Mike Storey, leader of Liverpool City Council, said: "When I became leader of the council one of the first things I said is that the city needed an arena and conference centre. So this ground-breaking is a day that I have looked forward to. It is a promise made and a promise delivered and we have been able to do that by working closely together with our partners on this very exciting scheme."